One of Texas Hill Country’s most underrated small towns sits at the confluence of the North and South Llano rivers: the aptly named Junction.
Just an hour west of trendy hot spot Fredericksburg, Junction features classic Hill Country scenery from spring-fed rivers to limestone bluffs to night skies to abundant wildlife.
“Whether you are here to hunt, fish, swim, kayak, bike, hike, golf, bird-watch, play disc golf, shop, or take in scenic views, Junction has something for everyone,” explains Mark Zrrazola, Kimble County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director.
Junction has been the county seat for Kimble County since 1876.
Travel writers in 2025 describe the drive into Junction like “taking a step back in time,” with MySanAntonio.com calling the main street area “a mix of historic and vintage 70s and 80s storefronts” and that Junction feels like “a relic of the Western era.”
Junction has maintained a healthy equilibrium for the past 75 years, with today’s population almost identical to 1950, just under 2,500 residents.
Junction’s Journey Through Time in the Texas Hill Country
Settlers started filtering into this remote region of Texas Hill Country in the 1850s and 1860s, with Kimble County created in 1858, but not fully organized until 1876, the same year that Junction was founded.
The town was originally called Denman, according to the Texas State Historical Association, after its surveyor (Marcellus Denman), but was renamed Junction City in 1877, and in 1894 the town’s name was curtailed to simply Junction.
A ranching community where Texans raised cattle, sheep, and goats. Junction grew slowly, starting with a post office in a private residence that moved to the town square in 1879. Kimble County’s first newspaper (the West Texan) started printing in 1882 in Junction.
By 1900, there were just 536 residents in the rural town.
The present Art Deco style county courthouse in Junction was built in 1929, after two earlier courthouses caught fire, with the original 1878 building burning in 1884, along with all the county records. A replacement building was then partially destroyed by fire in 1888, but was repaired until the new courthouse was constructed.
In 1927, nearly 60 years later, residents were allowed to vote and to form a city government.
Junction's economy, now based in part on tourism and hunting, was tied to its position as a shipping and marketing center for Kimble County livestock, wool, mohair, pecan, and grain production.
For more than 50 years, Junction has been home to a small branch of Texas Tech University, including the Llano River Field Station and Outdoor Learning Center.
The facility offers courses in three 15-day sessions where students can earn 3-4 credit hours in course offerings such as entomology, field ecology, GIS for NRM, photography, herpetology, mammalogy, ornithology, geography, and techniques.
Junction’s Small-Town Charm on Display at Annual Events
While Junction has the annual events you find in almost any Texas town, you will find the true small-town charm on display at local events, from sheep dog trials to predator calling contests to the area’s annual rodeo.
Here’s a look at some events that are worth attending:
- Texas Sheep Dog Trials on the Pecos Trail: Watch handlers from the U.S. and Canada compete in sheep dog trials, Feb. 12-15, 2026, at the Hill Country Fair Association Grounds.
- Junction, Texas Annual Predator Calling Contest: This March 14-15, 2026, event challenges hunters to use calls to attract and harvest coyotes, foxes, and bobcats.
- Outdoor Women Gone Wild: Held every April in Junction (April 18, 2026), this event offers women a great opportunity to brush up on their archery, bird watching, fly fishing, shooting, and outdoor photography skills. Self-defense lessons, mosaic cross making, team wagon driving, and more are also available.
- Cowboys & Cajuns: Held in June each year, this event (June 6, 2026) features live music, street dancing, the Miss Kimble County Pageant, and a crawfish boil. Held at the fairgrounds, music this year will be provided by Fast Moving Train.
- Summer Classic CPRA Rodeo: This long-running rodeo is held each year in Junction on the second weekend in August. The Aug. 14-15, 2026, event held at the fairgrounds features a rodeo with $10,000 in prize money, dancing under the stars each night, a car show, class reunions, and an annual parade.
- The Annual Kow Kick and Kow Kick BBQ Cook-Off: Held the Saturday before Labor Day each year (Sept. 5, 2026), this family fun festival includes an arts and craft fair, food, Little Miss and Mr. Kimble County Pageant, live music and dancing, and a BBQ cook-off. This event is held on the banks of the South Llano River at Junction’s Schriener Park.
Weekend Getaway in Junction
A weekend getaway in Junction includes plenty of outdoor fun with some of the best kayaking and tubing in the state.
- South Llano River Paddling Trail at Junction: There are some small rapids and occasional riffles and runs, but the river here is mostly flat and great for groups to enjoy floating.
- Schreiner Park: Located on the western banks of the South Llano River, just below the historic metal suspension bridge that leads into town. Also known as “City Park”, this beautiful stretch has kayak take-out points, a disc golf course, picnic tables, a swimming pool, and great views.
- South Llano River State Park: This 500+ acre park has 1.5 miles of river front and features hiking trails, camping, picnic areas, paddling/floating, kayaking, fishing, biking, stargazing, and nature watching.
- Fort McKavett State Historic Site: Just under an hour away from Junction, this 150-year-old West Texas fort has a rich history and spectacular views.
Indoor activities in Junction include:
- Kimble County Historical Museum: This free museum is open Monday to Friday from 9 to 4. Photographs, historical documents, and other items in the collection give visitors a glimpse into Kimble County’s past.
- O.C. Fisher Museum in the Kimble County Library: The library is reason enough to visit, but don’t miss the O.C. Fisher Wing with papers and other memorabilia from the life of Congressman O.C. Fisher, who served the Junction area in Washington for 32 years.
There are plenty of choices to eat and drink in Junction, such as Lum’s BBQ and The Milky Way, plus local shops to visit on your weekend in the area. Visit Junction and find out why the locals are proud to call the small-town home.
